'This is going to be a great show'

Matt O'Brien, front left, as Kenickie in the musical production of "Grease" at Glace Bay High School, and Brandon Carabin, as Danny, sing "We Go Together" with other cast members at the end of act one in the production, during rehearsals at the school. The musical opens Thursday to the public and continues Friday and Saturday, at 7 p.m. each night.

About 50 Glace Bay High School students are taking part in "Grease — The Musical" opening at the school Thursday night, a show which takes people back to "summer nights"in the 50's, an era of poodle skirts, leather jackets and bobby socks.

"It's so much fun being part of this," said Brandon Carabin, the Grade 11 who plays the male lead, Danny. "Being able to work with such a great bunch of people — it's a ball doing what we're doing."

Carabin said he had never been in a theatre production before "Grease."

"I sang in the car and in the shower — that's it."

When he heard about the auditions, he thought it'd be fun to try something he hadn't done before.

"It's all such good people in it; I knew it'd be lots of fun,"

The auditions started in June and rehearsals began in September. Watching rehearsals draws the onlooker into the fun students are having on stage, but confidence and talent displayed also brings a sense of amazement that these are the first serious theatre performances for everyone in the cast.

Noelle Wadden, music teacher at Glace Bay High School and musical director for the show, describes the production as "a blast."

"The students performing on stage are living it, but the band is also having so much fun. It’s been a great experience."

Wadden said the show came as a result of chats between her and Mike McPhee, drama teacher and director of the show, where they discussed the fun they both had being involved in musicals when they were in school.

"Mike and I talked about it the last few years, the fact there hadn't been one here for a long, long time," she said. "We thought this was the year to do it, that 'Grease' was a fun musical and 'let's do it.'"

The show is open to the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 7 p.m. each night

There is also a matinee Friday morning, which is already booked solid.

"We have about 600 students coming from North Sydney, New Waterford, Eskasoni, Donkin — from everywhere," said Wadden.

Jessica Hardy, who plays the role of Sandy in the production, said she was surprised to be selected as the female lead.

"I wanted to be in it so bad, it wouldn't have mattered what part I got, I would have been happy to be part of the ensemble," she said.

Hardy has performed on stage before, including at the Savoy Theatre and even singing "O Canada" for a Cape Breton Tradesmen major midget hockey game at Centre 200. She is also a member of the Glace Bay Glee.

Hardy said they are all hoping for a huge turnout.

"This is going to be a great show, a lot of hard work has put in it," she said. "It's been such a great experience, I hope I get this opportunity again."

McPhee, the school's drama teacher and director of the show, said what is amazing about this production to him, is to see students get the opportunity to prove how wrong the stereotypes of how people view youth can sometimes be.

"These are organized, passionate, and dedicated students to their community and they show it in their show," he said.

When asked what the public can expect from the show, McPhee said to "be amazed."

"This is a good example of some of the best things the young people of Glace Bay can do when they put their mind to it."

Matt O'Brien, front left, as Kenickie in the musical production of "Grease" at Glace Bay High School, and Brandon Carabin, as Danny, sing "We Go Together" with other cast members at the end of act one in the production, during rehearsals at the school. The musical opens Thursday to the public and continues Friday and Saturday, at 7 p.m. each night.

I can't wait to see it my Grandson Garrett and a lot of his Friends are in it and they put a lot of hard work and love into it.If you want to be amazed at our local talent please go to see Grease.You won't be disappointed.